Overview of respiratory care research

Few health care workers are directly involved in conducting research, but all must be able to read and understand scientific reports in medical journals. They must be familiar with the basic concepts of research in order to practice as professionals. The most important skill is the ability to read and critically evaluate published reports. Health care administrators rely on the results of studies to help solve problems and make decisions about important subjects, such as cost containment, productivity assessment, and continuous quality improvement. Educators must stay current with new technology and its evidence base. Both administrators and educators must be familiar with basic research concepts in order to be informed consumers of research information. Research attempts to find answers using the scientific method. This report describes the steps in the scientific method, the overall plan for conducting scientific research, and some basic skills required to successfully conduct research.